We are delighted to invite you to the first international meeting of the FREI – From Resistance to European Integration project, taking place on 27–28 May 2025 at the Bruno Kreisky Forum in Vienna, Austria.
Funded by the European Union’s CERV - Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme, the FREI project explores the very diverse national journeys from totalitarian regimes towards democracy and European Union membership, focusing on the struggles for democracy and human rights in five EU member states: Italy, Austria, Greece, Portugal, and Romania.
What to Expect?
The two-day event will feature:
Focus sessions on Austria’s history, including:
Dealing with the Nazi past and the role of the third and fourth generatoongeneration
Overcoming totalitarianism and rebuilding democracy
Contemporary approaches to telling Nazi history
Resistance and anti-fascist remembrance since 1945
Presentations of national Paths by partner organizations, highlighting key historical experiences and challenges on the road to democracy in various countries.
Interactive discussions on how to create inclusive remembrance narratives that resonate with diverse communities today.
Why Join Us?
The International Opening Event marks the launch of an inspiring transnational journey. By connecting historical memory with current challenges, FREI seeks to foster a deeper understanding of democracy, human rights, and European integration across generations and communities. The projects invites you to join the Austrian path and offers the possibilty to participate in the upcomming international conferences in the partners countries
Join us in Vienna to shape the future of remembrance and democracy!
draft AGENDA:
DAY 1, 27th MAY:
10:00 - 10:45 Opening & introduction
10:45 - 12:00 Austrian local path:
Nazi past and the 3rd generation, Hanah Lessing, Nationalfonds
Nationalfonds Overcoming totalitarianism: the SPÖ in (re-) building democracy, Matt Berg, John Carroll University, Cleveland
Telling NS History today, Barbara Glück, Mauthausen Memorial
Mauthausen Fighting fascism since 1945, Andreas Kranebitter, DÖW
Q&A
12:00 - 13:00 Break
13:00 - 13:30 Italian path to Democracy, Movimento Europeo
13:45 - 14:15 Greek path to Democracy, European Expression
14:15 - 14:45 Break
14:45 - 15:15 Romanian path to Democracy, Writers' League Timisoara
15:30 - 16:00 Portuguese path to Democracy, Mario Soares Foundation
DAY 2, 28th MAY:
10:00 - 10:40 Towards an Inclusive Remembrance Narrative, Hassal al Diaw (tbc)
10:40 - 11:00 Remembrance and Democracy in a Changing Europe, Eva-Esther Sobotka, Fundamental Rights Agency
11:00 - 16:00 Remembrance Tour Vienna, Stefan Lütgenau, Foster Europe